Nxai Pan National Park

Nxai Pan National Park is a compact yet remarkable 2,580 square kilometer wilderness area in northeastern Botswana that forms part of the larger Kalahari ecosystem alongside Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Unlike its neighbor's salt-encrusted pans, Nxai Pan is a dry fossil pan covered in grass and dotted with acacia islands, creating a unique landscape of vast horizons and open vistas. The park encompasses ancient lake beds that have transformed into acacia savannah over millennia, with permanent grasses now taking root and pockets of acacia trees growing both inside the pan and in thick woodland stands. Towering baobab trees, including the iconic Baines' Baobabs (some believed to be approximately 1,000 years old), frame the pan's fringes and provide stunning photographic opportunities. After the summer rains arrive in December, the park comes alive with one of southern Africa's most spectacular wildlife events: the migration of tens of thousands of zebra and wildebeest that arrive to feast on the new grasses. The park's charm lies in its remoteness and minimal tourist presence, offering visitors an authentic safari experience with excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing, bird watching, and landscape photography. The combination of diverse habitats, seasonal wildlife abundance, and pristine wilderness makes Nxai Pan an essential destination for those seeking to experience the raw beauty of the Kalahari.

Vast open fossil pans covered in grass with scattered acacia islands, towering baobab trees on fringes, acacia woodlands, spring flowers after rains, flat horizons extending to the horizon, and minimal vegetation creating an immense sense of space and isolation.

The park is located in Botswana's Kalahari region. Local communities have traditional connections to the area. Tourism provides economic benefits to local populations through employment and business opportunities.

Capture stunning sunsets with silhouetted elephants against vast horizons. Photograph zebra migrations during wet season. Early morning and late afternoon light ideal for landscape and wildlife photography. Bring telephoto lenses for wildlife. The open landscape provides excellent opportunities for wide-angle shots.